You've heard his name, you know his face, you may even hear his music on the radio occasionally, but do you know his story?
Early Life
Willie Hugh Nelson is arguably one of the most influential country singers
of all time. In my latest Weebly work, we will be discussing how this one
man revolutionized country music, and rode the Whiskey River into our
hearts.
Good old Willie Nelson grew up during the Great Depression in Abbot, Texas. Raised by his grandparents, Myrle Marie and Ira Doyle Nelson, he wrote his first song at the age of seven and by age ten, was already in his first band. He attended Abbot High School, where he played guitar in The Texans, a band formed by his sister's husband. After high school, Nelson joined the United States Air Force.
When he returned in 1952 after being discharged from the Air Force because of back problems, he married Martha Matthews and went to Baylor University to study agriculture. Nelson soon joined the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, but left after he began succeeding in a musical career. After joining Johnny Bush's band, he moved to Pleasanton, Texas with his family. In Pleasanton he auditioned for a disc jockey job in KBOP. Nelson got the job, even though he had no prior experience working on radio.
Music Career Before Shotgun Willie
Within no time (20 years) Willie was making it big in the music industry. In 1956 he made his first record, "No Place For Me" which included Leon Payne's "Lumberjack" on the B-side. After the recording failed to succeed, Willie made many appearances at a Colorado nightclub before moving to Springfield, Missouri. He moved back to Texas after he was unsuccessful in finding a good job. After settling in Fort Worth, he quit the music business for a year. In 1958, after his son Billy was born, Nelson moved to Houston, where he was given a $50 loan to rent an apartment and a 6-night job singing at the Esquire Ballroom Club. At this time, he was recording two singles for Pappy Daily on D Records: "The Storm Has Just Begun/Man With the Blues" and "What a Way to Live/Misery Mansion." Nelson was then hired by guitar instructor Paul Buskrik as an instructor at his school. After selling his album "Family Bible," it turned into a hit for Claude Gray in 1960.
No label singed Willie when he moved to Nashville later that year. At Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, a bar near the Grand Ole Opry, Nelson met Hank Cochran, a songwriter for Pamper Music. Cochran received a raise of $50 a week but after hearing Nelson play during a jam session with Buddy Emmons and Jimmy Day, he gave his raise to Nelson in order to sign him to Pamper Music. Later, Faron Young agreed to record Willie's "Hello Walls." Ray Price then recorded Nelson's "Night Life," and Willie became the bassist for Price's band. Patsy Cline recorded "Crazy." By August 1961, Willie had signed with Liberty Records and was already recording in Quonset Hut Studio. His next two singles "Willingly" and "Touch Me" became successful. In 1962, Nelson's first album, "And then I Wrote" was released.
By 1964, Willie was working for RCA Victor Records after Chet Atkins signed him a contract for $10,000 per year. His first album with RCA was "Country Willie - His Own Songs." He then joined the Grand Ole Opry and formed his backing band "The Record Men." From November 1966 to March 1965, his albums reached the top 25. In late April, 1972, after his albums failed to succeed, Nelson retired from music even though his contract hadn't ended yet. He moved to Austin Texas, and was soon playing again his own style of country music. He even performed at the final day of the Dripping Springs Reunion, an annual three-day country music festival. This festival inspired him to create The Fourth of July Picnic, his own annual event. When Nelson returned to the recording business, he signed Neil Rashen as his manager, who was able to end his contract. Rashen then signed Nelson to Atlantic Records for $25,000 a year. He soon formed his backing band, The Family, and by early 1973 was recording Shotgun Willie.
Early Life
Willie Hugh Nelson is arguably one of the most influential country singers
of all time. In my latest Weebly work, we will be discussing how this one
man revolutionized country music, and rode the Whiskey River into our
hearts.
Good old Willie Nelson grew up during the Great Depression in Abbot, Texas. Raised by his grandparents, Myrle Marie and Ira Doyle Nelson, he wrote his first song at the age of seven and by age ten, was already in his first band. He attended Abbot High School, where he played guitar in The Texans, a band formed by his sister's husband. After high school, Nelson joined the United States Air Force.
When he returned in 1952 after being discharged from the Air Force because of back problems, he married Martha Matthews and went to Baylor University to study agriculture. Nelson soon joined the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, but left after he began succeeding in a musical career. After joining Johnny Bush's band, he moved to Pleasanton, Texas with his family. In Pleasanton he auditioned for a disc jockey job in KBOP. Nelson got the job, even though he had no prior experience working on radio.
Music Career Before Shotgun Willie
Within no time (20 years) Willie was making it big in the music industry. In 1956 he made his first record, "No Place For Me" which included Leon Payne's "Lumberjack" on the B-side. After the recording failed to succeed, Willie made many appearances at a Colorado nightclub before moving to Springfield, Missouri. He moved back to Texas after he was unsuccessful in finding a good job. After settling in Fort Worth, he quit the music business for a year. In 1958, after his son Billy was born, Nelson moved to Houston, where he was given a $50 loan to rent an apartment and a 6-night job singing at the Esquire Ballroom Club. At this time, he was recording two singles for Pappy Daily on D Records: "The Storm Has Just Begun/Man With the Blues" and "What a Way to Live/Misery Mansion." Nelson was then hired by guitar instructor Paul Buskrik as an instructor at his school. After selling his album "Family Bible," it turned into a hit for Claude Gray in 1960.
No label singed Willie when he moved to Nashville later that year. At Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, a bar near the Grand Ole Opry, Nelson met Hank Cochran, a songwriter for Pamper Music. Cochran received a raise of $50 a week but after hearing Nelson play during a jam session with Buddy Emmons and Jimmy Day, he gave his raise to Nelson in order to sign him to Pamper Music. Later, Faron Young agreed to record Willie's "Hello Walls." Ray Price then recorded Nelson's "Night Life," and Willie became the bassist for Price's band. Patsy Cline recorded "Crazy." By August 1961, Willie had signed with Liberty Records and was already recording in Quonset Hut Studio. His next two singles "Willingly" and "Touch Me" became successful. In 1962, Nelson's first album, "And then I Wrote" was released.
By 1964, Willie was working for RCA Victor Records after Chet Atkins signed him a contract for $10,000 per year. His first album with RCA was "Country Willie - His Own Songs." He then joined the Grand Ole Opry and formed his backing band "The Record Men." From November 1966 to March 1965, his albums reached the top 25. In late April, 1972, after his albums failed to succeed, Nelson retired from music even though his contract hadn't ended yet. He moved to Austin Texas, and was soon playing again his own style of country music. He even performed at the final day of the Dripping Springs Reunion, an annual three-day country music festival. This festival inspired him to create The Fourth of July Picnic, his own annual event. When Nelson returned to the recording business, he signed Neil Rashen as his manager, who was able to end his contract. Rashen then signed Nelson to Atlantic Records for $25,000 a year. He soon formed his backing band, The Family, and by early 1973 was recording Shotgun Willie.